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YOU are in charge of the next PHB! What do you change?
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<blockquote data-quote="JEB" data-source="post: 8308813" data-attributes="member: 10148"><p>In general:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Wizards should try its damnedest not to leave anyone behind who liked 5E as it was. Ideally, nothing from the 2014 PHB should be removed, though changes are to be expected.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Every change from the 2014 PHB - even changes originating in later sourcebooks that <em>seem</em> broadly popular if you ask folks on forums, Reddit, or Twitter - should be run by the player base as a whole through polling. Any change that doesn't have overwhelming support (say, 75% or greater) should be left out of the core rules.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In addition, poll players for their favorite race, class, background, feat, and spell options from non-core 5E books - anything that gets at least 75% support should strongly be considered for inclusion in the core rules.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Changes in lore are fine, but it should be possible to reconcile any new lore with established lore. Retcons are preferred over reboots, and additions that contradict nothing previously established are preferred over retcons. (For example, adding more types of drow besides Lolth-worshippers is good. Pretending Lolth-worshipping drow never existed is bad.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Alignment is retained, but it's explicitly presented as descriptive and not prescriptive.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bonus actions are also retained.</li> </ul><p>Character races:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Changing the term to "species" is fine, but not required. Though if "race" is retained, it would be wise to clarify that it's as in "the human race" and not a reference to ethnicities.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Separate character race (physical traits) and culture (skills and proficiencies), with the latter replacing the current subraces. (Yes, this means traits such as innate spellcasting and Superior Darkvision will be treated as cultural differences.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Every race and subrace from the 2014 PHB should be included in some form, and orcs should be added as a core race. (Duergar and svirfneblin would also be nice additions, but not required.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rewrite lore as needed to address concerns about real-life analogies, but without completely wiping away the established portrayals. (This will be a tricky task but worth it, I think. The player who wants to be the gruff dwarf or arrogant elf should still be able to do so without feeling like they're doing something wrong.) Integrating lore modifications from 5E's run, such as the elf lore from Mordenkainen's, is encouraged.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Every character race should present at least two cultures, with different recommended skills and alignments that are also described as flexible. More than two cultures each is even better. Emphasize that you can also ignore these default cultures and build your own, and that advice for such will be provided in the DMG. (Then live up to that promise.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Floating ASIs are the default assumption, but every race and culture should have a recommended quick build for the +2 and +1, respectively (and it shouldn't just be "optimize them for your class").</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There should be heavy playtesting and polling on how to handle humans. However, variant human remains a variant; feats are not core.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cultures should be designed to be interchangeable between different races, and this should be encouraged. The classic half-orcs and half-elves are what happens when human PCs have orc or elf cultures applied, or orc or elf PCs have human cultures applied.</li> </ul><p>Classes:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Integrate any Tasha's changes that meet the 75% polling threshold. Except for "fighting styles" that grant cantrips to non-casting classes, because that one just bugs me.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Subclasses should be recalibrated to all begin at level 1, with new traits being available at the same levels throughout every class. However, while now feasible, interchangeable subclasses should not be included in the core rules.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">All classes should have at least three subclass options. I would strongly recommend adding the swashbuckler and hexblade to the core, at minimum.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fighters should have a very simple assortment of combat maneuvers by default, but the bulk should remain exclusive to the battle master, which should also get more warlord-like features.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">As tempting as it may be, do not replace the wild magic sorcerer's table with a heap of entirely useful options. Keep it weird.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The hexblade's features should either be integrated into the base class's Pact of the Blade, or (if hexblade is included as a core subclass) the Blade features should be made hexblade exclusive.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">More space should be dedicated to the idea of clerics, druids, paladins, or warlocks losing their abilities if they stray from the path, and how to handle that, but also that whether or not this happens is something that should be decided by the DM and player before play begins.</li> </ul><p>Spells:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spell levels are called, well, anything other than spell "levels". Ranks, circles, tiers, something.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bring back the one-line descriptions in the spell lists from 3E, because they were super handy.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sorcerers don't get "named" spells (i.e. Mordenkainen's whatever), which become exclusive to wizards. Sorcerers either get similar (but distinct) replacements with general names, or (better yet) brand-new spells that wizards <em>don't</em> get.</li> </ul><p>Other:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Include more examples of play, especially for confusing elements like surprise.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Include tables in the back for randomly generating characters, because it's fun. Copying over the history tables from Xanathar's would be nice too.</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JEB, post: 8308813, member: 10148"] In general: [LIST] [*]Wizards should try its damnedest not to leave anyone behind who liked 5E as it was. Ideally, nothing from the 2014 PHB should be removed, though changes are to be expected. [*]Every change from the 2014 PHB - even changes originating in later sourcebooks that [I]seem[/I] broadly popular if you ask folks on forums, Reddit, or Twitter - should be run by the player base as a whole through polling. Any change that doesn't have overwhelming support (say, 75% or greater) should be left out of the core rules. [*]In addition, poll players for their favorite race, class, background, feat, and spell options from non-core 5E books - anything that gets at least 75% support should strongly be considered for inclusion in the core rules. [*]Changes in lore are fine, but it should be possible to reconcile any new lore with established lore. Retcons are preferred over reboots, and additions that contradict nothing previously established are preferred over retcons. (For example, adding more types of drow besides Lolth-worshippers is good. Pretending Lolth-worshipping drow never existed is bad.) [*]Alignment is retained, but it's explicitly presented as descriptive and not prescriptive. [*]Bonus actions are also retained. [/LIST] Character races: [LIST] [*]Changing the term to "species" is fine, but not required. Though if "race" is retained, it would be wise to clarify that it's as in "the human race" and not a reference to ethnicities. [*]Separate character race (physical traits) and culture (skills and proficiencies), with the latter replacing the current subraces. (Yes, this means traits such as innate spellcasting and Superior Darkvision will be treated as cultural differences.) [*]Every race and subrace from the 2014 PHB should be included in some form, and orcs should be added as a core race. (Duergar and svirfneblin would also be nice additions, but not required.) [*]Rewrite lore as needed to address concerns about real-life analogies, but without completely wiping away the established portrayals. (This will be a tricky task but worth it, I think. The player who wants to be the gruff dwarf or arrogant elf should still be able to do so without feeling like they're doing something wrong.) Integrating lore modifications from 5E's run, such as the elf lore from Mordenkainen's, is encouraged. [*]Every character race should present at least two cultures, with different recommended skills and alignments that are also described as flexible. More than two cultures each is even better. Emphasize that you can also ignore these default cultures and build your own, and that advice for such will be provided in the DMG. (Then live up to that promise.) [*]Floating ASIs are the default assumption, but every race and culture should have a recommended quick build for the +2 and +1, respectively (and it shouldn't just be "optimize them for your class"). [*]There should be heavy playtesting and polling on how to handle humans. However, variant human remains a variant; feats are not core. [*]Cultures should be designed to be interchangeable between different races, and this should be encouraged. The classic half-orcs and half-elves are what happens when human PCs have orc or elf cultures applied, or orc or elf PCs have human cultures applied. [/LIST] Classes: [LIST] [*]Integrate any Tasha's changes that meet the 75% polling threshold. Except for "fighting styles" that grant cantrips to non-casting classes, because that one just bugs me. [*]Subclasses should be recalibrated to all begin at level 1, with new traits being available at the same levels throughout every class. However, while now feasible, interchangeable subclasses should not be included in the core rules. [*]All classes should have at least three subclass options. I would strongly recommend adding the swashbuckler and hexblade to the core, at minimum. [*]Fighters should have a very simple assortment of combat maneuvers by default, but the bulk should remain exclusive to the battle master, which should also get more warlord-like features. [*]As tempting as it may be, do not replace the wild magic sorcerer's table with a heap of entirely useful options. Keep it weird. [*]The hexblade's features should either be integrated into the base class's Pact of the Blade, or (if hexblade is included as a core subclass) the Blade features should be made hexblade exclusive. [*]More space should be dedicated to the idea of clerics, druids, paladins, or warlocks losing their abilities if they stray from the path, and how to handle that, but also that whether or not this happens is something that should be decided by the DM and player before play begins. [/LIST] Spells: [LIST] [*]Spell levels are called, well, anything other than spell "levels". Ranks, circles, tiers, something. [*]Bring back the one-line descriptions in the spell lists from 3E, because they were super handy. [*]Sorcerers don't get "named" spells (i.e. Mordenkainen's whatever), which become exclusive to wizards. Sorcerers either get similar (but distinct) replacements with general names, or (better yet) brand-new spells that wizards [I]don't[/I] get. [/LIST] Other: [LIST] [*]Include more examples of play, especially for confusing elements like surprise. [*]Include tables in the back for randomly generating characters, because it's fun. Copying over the history tables from Xanathar's would be nice too. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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